Arriva have won the new Northern franchise to commence 1st April 2016 and are to provide 281 new air conditioned coaches to replace Pacers by 2019. Commitments for the Durham Coastline include

• A half-hourly service Middlesbrough to Newcastle
• 30 trains a day each way to include 10 fast ‘Connect’ services operated by refurbished Class 158 Sprinters
• Earlier and later trains each day

Grand Central are operating an additional Saturday shoppers special train  (1Z61) to York on the four Saturdays before Christmas – should normally be a 2 + 5 HST. Departs Sunderland 0909, Hartlepool 0935, Eaglescliffe 0955, Northallerton 1026, Thirsk 1035 and arrives York 1100